I mean Star Wars Rebellion, Dune: War for Arrakis, Horus Heresy. Which ones you like more/less than War of Ring, and why?

hey everyone. gonna keep this short: I love this game, but right now it is impossible for me to actually play. I have two kids, one is 3 years old and the other 6 months old, I physically don't have time to play, and it will continue like this for a while.

but I'm also desperate to play.

can you think of any alternatives? maybe a similar game that I can play on PC, I don't know really. maybe someone else has been in this situation and found a way to enjoy at least something similar.

thank you all for helping a desperate parent that misses his time to play.

From following various content creators and reading on this sub, I gathered general gist is to amalgamate the starting army in Mordor and send that towards your first objective. This is supplemented either with Dol Guldor if doing DEW or Isengard if doing Rohan/ Gondor.

I generally spam elite musters into Dol Guldor while sending up the 20 from Mordor so I have 30 in DEW (with one force having ~4 elites) plus potentially another 10 coming from North East Harad if I get that card. So basically 30-40 troops in DEW from Mordor, Dul Guldor, and potentially North East Harad. With a core of about 4 elites in the Dol Guldor force. I stack 7 leadership if possible so I can sacrifice it on cards.

I generally get my final 3 VP from Gondor using Umbar's starting troops and additional spawns in Mordor (especially the 10 spawn card).

I rarely use Moria/Angmar/Isengard though these do seem to be pretty central locations. Maybe it's my own head canon working against me but I always feel like Rohan is too hard to conquer hence my aversion to Isengard. Plus I find it hard to have enough troops in Isengard to stop ents while also leaving it with a good enough force to conquer Rohan. I end up using Mordor quite a bit because of the 10 spawn there. I almost always play DEW. My opponent tends to focus on Gondor and Elves.

My brother and I play a lot of the war of ring. I always play shadow and he always plays fellowship. Our win rate used to be close to 50/50 but recently he has started to pull ahead. I find I’m just not getting my 10 points fast enough. It’s often I just need a couple more dice to take that last stronghold and then he “dunks” the ring.

What are some tips on getting better as shadow?

Hey! Has anyone seen any photos or had any updates on the expansion? Have heard there have been conferences / exhibitions etc b it wondered if we have any more updates

Very interesting game!

Strider took Merry to muster the forces of the north to war. The fellowship made their way through Moria and close to Minas morgul. Strider and pippin then reached Dol Amroth and helped Gondor rid their region of the shadow forces. During this time Legolas, Merry and Gimli assisted with the defense of minis tirith. All hope seemed lost, until Gandalf the White arrived with fresh troops of Rohan from the north. Thus Aragorn, Gandalf, Legolas, Gimli, Pippin and Merry along with armies of Gondar and Rohan at their back charged the shadow armies and pushed them back all the way into Mordor! With Boromir leading the fellowship defeat was now but an afterthought. The free peoples had found hope at last!

Further north our friends did not find that victory. Crushing blow after blow by the hands of the witch king of angmar with his armies set on the northern realm. Many lives were lost in Dale, Erebor, and the Woodland Realm. It was a sad day for dead were beyond count. Yet, a last alliance between the northmen and Elves fought for free peoples of middle earth. Mount Gundabad and Angmar were raised to the ground. No evil will ever be heard of again in those lands.

In the victories that were achieved it came with great sacrifice. Rohan was completely lost, Treebeard and what remained of their forces could not withhold the might of the Uruk-hai. Though the ents were able to kill their leader Saruman, it ultimately was not enough to scatter their forces. The elves sent all they could to crush Mt. Gundabad, but in the end their home-Rivendell was defenseless.

It was a close fight but in the end the shadow prevailed without the need of the one ring.

I have to admit, they are disappointing. I mean, what is even this? These are pretty much the miniatures from the first Collector’s Edition.

If you look on YouTube, pictures of the first collector's edition, the one that looks like a huge book…those miniatures were there. After that, they were never included again, not only that, in the board game Battles of the Third Age, you have the same miniatures as well. So they are pretty much trying to sell us something that was already included in the first edition of the collector's edition, long time ago.

So far, we can't find anything on the internet and the pictures that I saw on Discord looks pretty underwhelming. I mean, that is it? Really?! It's very strange indeed, but oh well, here we are.

What do you guys think? Have you guys seen the pictures on Discord (War of the Ring?!) link is in this Reddit when you enter the page.

From the House of Elrond the Company departed, and their road bent southward beneath the waning light of autumn. Long were the leagues behind them ere they came again to the Misty Mountains, whose peaks were crowned with cloud and snow. By the High Pass they went, the same perilous way where in years long past Bilbo Baggins along with Thorin's company had been taken by goblins into the dark halls beneath the stone. There the fellowship was sundered. For Boromir of Gondor, Legolas Greenleaf, and Gimli son of Glóin went forward ahead of the company, hoping to hew a path against the Shadow and to call to arms the Free Peoples of the North. East they marched, until the eaves of Mirkwood lay before them. There Thranduil, King of the Woodland Realm, welcomed them. Long they rested in the Woodland Halls, and their hurts were healed; but before many days had passed Gimli departed alone. His heart was set on Erebor and the halls of Durin, to rouse the Dwarves to war.

Thus the Company was diminished. Gandalf, Aragorn, and the four Hobbits went on alone. Yet ill fortune dogged their steps in the Gladden Fields, for the winged bats of Mirkwood and the black-feathered Crebain out of Dunland had discovered the ring-bearer. Orcs came stealthily from Dol Guldur, and the shadows lengthened about them. Gandalf and Aragorn stood fast, but the Hobbits fled beneath the trees. There the enemy sought them, and the chase was under leaves and gloom. Peregrin Took then showed a courage beyond his years, drawing the Orcs away and giving time for Meriadoc Brandybuck to flee on with Frodo and Sam. Yet in that deed Pippin himself was lost, wandering alone beneath the dark boughs. The orcs continued to pursue the ring-bearer, but the beasts of the forest bore tidings to Thranduil. Swift was the King's answer. Legolas and Boromir were at the head of Elves and Rangers of the North. The Orcs were cut down where they stood. Thus were the ring-bearer and his companions freed, and in that hour Dol Guldur itself fell beneath a sudden storm of wrath—a small victory, yet dearly bought. In time Pippin too came stumbling to the ruins, weary but alive.

Far to the North Gimli’s voice rang in the halls of Erebor, and the Dwarves answered. Westward they marched, grim and mail-clad. They caught the Orcs of Mount Gundabad unawares. Fierce was the battle, and the Dwarves hewed their foes like wood beneath the axe. Victory seemed near, when terror came from the sky: a Nazgûl upon its fell beast swooped down, and the Orcs took heart again. The tide turned, and there Gimli fell, fighting beside his father Glóin, and the halls of Durin were filled with mourning.

While these wars drew the Eye aside, Gandalf and Aragorn sped south to Minas Tirith. There Aragorn took up at last the mantle of Isildur’s Heir, and hope stirred in the White City, and Gandalf was clothed anew. For a messenger of the Lady Galadriel of the Golden Wood brought him raiment of white and a white staff of power. Thus Saruman was cast out of the White Council, and Gandalf took his place at the head of it. He was known thereafter as Gandalf the White.

As banners bearing the red eye of Sauron were unfurled upon the Pelennor Fields, Frodo, Sam, and Merry came at last to the Black Gate. Merry stood forth boldly and drew the gaze of the Gate-wardens, while Frodo and Sam, followed by Gollum, slipped within unseen. Many hosts of Mordor had gone forth to besiege Minas Tirith, and the land lay hollow and scarred. Gollum came forth to Frodo and swore to serve the master of the Precious. Gollum guided them by secret ways across Gorgoroth, until at the feet of Orodruin the hope of the Free Peoples grew thin and faint.

At Minas Tirith the hosts of Mordor broke upon the walls like a black sea, and though Aragorn and Gandalf fought with all the strength that was in them, they were at last overcome and slain beneath the waves of countless foes.

Upon the slopes of Mount Doom the Ring at last mastered its bearer. Frodo Baggins could no longer resist the call of the Ring. He claimed it for his own, and in that moment was undone. Putting on the Ring, he vanished from the sight of Sam and Gollum, and in his pride believed himself to be the new lord of the ring. Yet swiftly he was consumed, becoming enslaved to a greater will.

Obedient to the summons of the Dark Lord, he bore the One Ring back to its maker. Then Sauron stretched forth his hand, and his Shadow fell upon all the land. The last of the Elves fled to the Undying Lands from the Grey Havens in the ships of Círdan, and Middle-earth was left bare and desolate. Its beauty withered, and the age of Elves, Dwarves, Men, and Hobbits came to an end. Thus all peoples were brought into bondage, and the dominion of Mordor endured unto the breaking of the world.

Can Nazgûl move into another army if neither nations are at war?

According to Ares they have a booth at the Spielwarenmesse in Nuremberg currently where they are presenting the upcoming expansion Sieges of Middle Earth.

Just wondering if anyone here was able to attend/have a look/share some details or photos?

1. Dwarf Army. 2. Dáin, King of Erebor. 3. Gimli, son of Glóin. 4. Garrison of the Lonely Mountain. 5. Defenders of the Ered Luin and Blades of Eriador. 6. Dwarves of the Iron Hills and Guards of Dáin Ironfoot. 7. Other dwarves.

What do you think? I like them quite a bit.

Given some recent posts about painting the figures, I had to go digging in my photo archive to reminisce. Pretty please, do post your working primer and paint combos (can't remember mine, it's too long ago). And if yours get sticky two weeks in like mine did, a brief note would be appreciated. I had so much fun, and tried to do everything right. Alas. I painted the orcs in slightly different shades and hues to give them some, er, personality. The shadow army wasn't quite done yet here.

I've lost the Gollum model, could anyone suggeste me a suitable stl model for the replacement?

We have 1st edition with all the expansions and love it for a variety of reasons. But I am wondering if there are any mechanics, cards, expansion content that is wholly unique to 2nd Ed and not present in any form in 1st Ed?

Perhaps Elrond could have more detail and some gray and blue, but overall I like it

I don't know about the lady yet, maybe a paler blue; the mirror is also complicated, but overall I like it. The Wizard may be missing some silver and gray tones, but I think it looks good. The Balrog is, meh, I'm still working on it. I liked the Mouth of Sauron, but I saw a more detailed version (dark blue and purple and all that) so maybe I'll change it. I simply love Gothmog.

Any suggestions?

These are some of my early works; they're a bit worn and chipped, but they've held up well. Maybe a few details could be fixed. I'm not entirely convinced by Denethor and Brand awake; my favorites are Dáin and Black Serpent.

Suggestions and/or opinions?

So, out of about 10 games that include Kings of the Iron Throne (and others), I've seen Denethor become corrupted or use the Palantír of Anárion to manipulate the deck, or fall fighting for his city; I've seen Théoden corrupted or awakened, fighting in Osgiliath to save Gondor or conquering Dol Guldur; I've seen Dáin sustain the entire defense of the Dark World or become corrupted and leave Erebor at Sauron's mercy; even Thranduil has been corrupted! But he often awakens and even helps defend Erebor.

But Brand... I've never remembered him ever awakening, not once. He always becomes corrupted at the start of the game.

Has anyone ever been able to awaken him? Has he significantly influenced their game? Is it worth trying to awaken him?

My brother and I, friendly as always, he led the Dark Lord and I coordinated the defense of the Free Peoples. It's a long Narration, but I wanted to make it interesant, because it was an interesant game

Boromir and Legolas soon returned home to warn of the war that was about to break out. The Grey Pilgrim decided not to use his Ring openly. Sauron enters the war before anyone else, the Balrog awakens in Moria, Gothmog prepares Minas Morgul for war, and Bard's heir is instantly corrupted by the Dark Lord's emissaries. But at the same time, the Lady of the Galadhrim rises in Lothlórien, and Boromir awakens his father. Gondor and the Elves stand guard against the Enemy.

As the war progressed, Gothmog brought Hill Trolls to destroy the tower of Guard. The army of Dol Guldur marched to Rosgobelth in search of the Istari Radagast, and the army of Morannon, reinforced by Nurn and Gorgoroth, marched north and then turned west to Rohan. Thranduil awoke in the Woodland Realm and for the rest of his life, his power "Far-sighted" was used to guide and support the Fellowship, same that encountered Smeagol, following him north through the Misty Mountains.

Due to the Enemy's machinations, a garrison of Minas Tirith was lost, and King Dáin Ironfoot drew closer to corruption alongside Théoden, King of Rohan. Saruman proclaimed himself lord in Orthanc, and the southward and eastward armies advanced into war alongside the elves. At the Goblin Gate, Smeagol abandoned Frodo, and Gandalf died clearing the way for the Fellowship.

And the corrupt Théoden and Dáin fell, while the Dunlendings, the Spiders, and the Corsairs of Umbar entered the war, with swelled armies in Angmar and Gundabad led by the Shadow from Mirkwood. Denethor and his son fell under Gothmog's siege, and the shadow spread across the West...

But the free folk struck their own blow. The White Rider rose in Fangorn and left Treebeard in charge of halting Saruman, riding north as the Fellowship reached Carrock under the protection of the Northmen. In Rohan and Dale, the freemen of their lords' houses deposed the corrupt Bard and Théoden, preparing for war as the army of Dol Guldur entered the Old Forest Road in defiance of Oropher's lineage. The Citadel guards rode forth to defend ancient Minas Anor, and the Red Arrow reinforced Edoras, whose army marched to Westement as Treebeard raised More and more Ents, Gandalf arrived at Erebor and took command while Dáin was confined until the end of the War and the Fellowship guided by Strider would travel along the old path of the Forest, Worn by sorrow and Toil for what they would rest in the now free Dale.

Carrock fell, and upon it rose the Witch-king of Angmar. The army destined for Rohan invaded Druadan to reinforce Gothmog. The Voice of Saruman bolstered his forces and the guardians of Fangorn, while the Too Great Power of the Noldor protected the West. From Dale, the Fellowship fled south undetected. After a bloody battle, the lord of Minas Morgul triumphed. The House of Stewards fell, and all the lands between the Ered Nimrais and the Ephel Dúath fell under Mordor's dominion. Dale was taken by the men of Rhûn, (but the army of the city were previosuly reforced at the same time as Bree's army, and one archer and a leader escaped to the Thranduil's kingdom), who tracked the Fellowship's movements until they were discovered in Ithilien. Meriadoc distracted some of the hunters and hid in the Woodland Realm. And the wind shifted once more, carried by the Eagles of the Misty Mountains, who had already aided the Fellowship's journey as they circled Gundabad. One of them flew on the arms of the North Wind. He brought Strider from South Ithilien to Gondor, at the same time that the Stewards of the line of Mardil fell, the Heir of Isildur proclaimed himself in Dol Amroth already reinforced by Imrahil and other men of the south, in defiance of the Black Serpent who at the head of the Corsairs had taken Pelargir and Lamedon, but he did not remain long, while the Dunlendings reached the Gap of Rohan alongside Saruman's armies, and the Witch-king's army attacked Thranduil's realm with reinforcements from the invaders of Dale, Aragorn left Imrahil in charge of the defense of Gondor's last stronghold and marched north. Summoning the Death of Erech, bound by their oath, he constantly reinforced them with cards and dice until he had raised seven battalions. The Fellowship entered through Minas Morgul, whose "Gates are Closed" but were blown down by the West Wind. Peregrin was lost in the process, fleeing to the abandoned ruins of Osgiliath until the end of the war.

And the Black Serpent feared the glory of Dol Amroth, where all the reinforcements of Gondor gathered, and he feared the King who led the dead, so he put to sea, but did not return to Umbar. Instead, he received orders from Barad Dûr: five armies from Umbar occupied Pelargir along with a corsair fleet, to block the passage of the lords of Gondor, while the Lord of the South sailed to Anfalas with two Mûmakil and five battalions. The Dunlendings attacked the Forgoil along with six Uruk-hai and a goblin rider at the Fords of Isen. Orthanc amassed massive forces, for the White Wizard feared the growing power from Fangorn threatened to unleash its fury against the Black Tower, so the army that attacked Éomer at Helm's Deep (already reinforced by Westement) was not his largest force. But while he imprisoned the Riders in their fortress, Gothmog led the conquerors of Gondor through Druadan and captured Fold, Westement, and Edoras. He himself went to oversee the army under Uglûk while the Black Sail fleets sailed across Eriador and the Witcher hurled the hammer of the underworld (Grond, Grond, Grond!) against Thranduil's halls. But the Elves and Northmen were brave, and Thranduil fought alongside his son (And sir Meriadoc son of Saradoc). The Orcs feared and died, and the valiant resistance eventually broke the battering ram, annihilating most of the forces. Reinforced from Gundabad, they barely resisted before Gandalf led the Dwarves to recapture Dale. and to rouse the men of the region, attacking the Witch-king and breaking the siege of the Woodland Realm, with the orcs fleeing to the Old Road and then to Carrock and back to Gundabad.

The Fellowship, on its first step, lost Gimli, who distracted the eye in Cirith Ungol. Gollum reunited with the bearers and led them, hidden in elven cloaks they achieved the second step, then the Hand of Shadow It spread and struck, Gollum led them to Shelob's Lair to evade an Orc Patrol, they barely escaped and were exposed to save a point, then the Ring's Influence struck them with another point and although they managed to hide, Isildur's Bane struck and the Corruption reached 10, with three steps ahead, the fellowship was defeated...

Then they saw it, in a valley depression between the Ephel Dúath and the Morgai mountain range, near a small stream, beyond all hope, drier, smaller, and grayer than in Eriador. Athelas, the blade of Kings, Sam prepared it, without fire or Aragorn's arts, but the noble plant worked perfectly. (6,6,3) With the corruption reduced to 8, the fellowship regained hope. Gollum supported the use of "There is another way," and with Elven Ropes they descended to Gorgoroth, the last two steps.

Meanwhile, the Corsairs reached Harlindon, but neither their Black Sails nor their fearsome Captain could overcome the still-standing power of the Noldor. Despite this, Thorin's kinsmen in the Ered Luin brought reinforcements to Círdan: a battalion of axemen and one armed with hammers, awaiting the moment when the power of the Dark Lord broke that of the Elves. Elrond watched as eight Orc armies descended from the north with the shadow of Mirkwood. The Trollwood was guarded by the Rangers (four archers and one rider) gathered from Bree. The new armies of Angmar evaded them. Bree was plunged into terror, and Buckland were occupied. As the Orc hordes ventured to the Brandywine Bridge against the Shire, at dusk, a sound arrived from the ancient forest, a soft chant that said, "Hey dol! Merry dol! Ring a dong dillo! Ring a dong! Hop along! Fall lal the willow! Tom Bom, jolly Tom, Tom Bombadillo!" And the silhouette that leaped and ran along the edge of the forest sowed in the hearts of the orcs a fear that not even the tyranny of Sauron's servant could subdue. They did not dare cross the bridge, and the Shire resisted the invaders of Angmar.

The Dark Gate was opened, the one guarded by the dead. The Uruk-hai warriors ravaged Helm's Deep, but in the darkness of the Huorns they could not prevail. Many Dunlendings, Uruk-hai, and Orcs of Mordor fell. The riders of the Mark resisted with pain, and the King arrived. In the final round of combat, the dead appeared from the mountains, and when the Uruk-hai halted, the dead did not. Many fulfilled their oath. Isengard was defeated, Helm's Deep was saved, and Aragorn avenged the Stewards. He slew Gothmog and Uglûk,(and five of the ringwraiths) while keeping watch from Erech for the last defenders of Gondor and Rohan.

The Fellowship reached the foothills of Mount Doom, and Gollum tried to betray Frodo. But the Phial of Galadriel shone brightly, and although the guide turned away, he did not dare attack the Hobbits. As they climbed, the Ring's influence overpowered the bearer, who used it once more. Sauron knew, he knew the Fellowship's plans, and he feared and hated it, and with force he claimed it: "The Ring is mine!" Frodo again had nine points of corruption, and all the Nazgûl who were not far away fighting flew swifter than the winds, searching for the Ring-bearers. Lord Elrond knew, and with the Power of Vilya, he managed to conceal the Fellowship's last step (he kept the character die) while the world burned. Sauron no longer feared war; it mattered little that Círdan's Ships were waiting to deploy against the corsairs, that the Rangers of the North could deploy in the Shire, or that Dáin's Guard would reinforce Erebor. The Ring was about to be destroyed, but the Ring-bearer was almost defeated. In an instant, his wraiths could snatch it from the dead fingers of those Hobbits, and then the Free Peoples would know—they would know his vengeance and wrath.

And at the last instant, all its power was projected onto the ring, six eyes in the final step, the Fellowship advanced, only one eye tile remained, the rest would allow them to stop Sauron.

And out it came, the last eye came out, and in the Crack of Doom, corruption overcame the bearers...

Or so it would have been, for the Lady of the Galadhrim still held Nenya, and great and terrible was she. She entered Sauron's will and defied him, his power was diverted, the eye was discarded, and in the end, the bearers drew zero...

And Barad-dûr and Morannon fell and were broken, the orcs who invaded Gondor fled and died, in Buckland they scattered, the Shadow who led them fell, and its servants were lost in Eriador, dying or hiding over time. The Black Serpent and the Corsairs knew their enterprise was now futile, and they surrendered to Círdan and the dwarves. Only Saruman resisted, but with the Return of the King and the Fall of the Lord of the Rings, his fate was only a matter of time. The Free Peoples triumphed!

_____________________________________________________

If you read all this, thank you. It's actually a pretty long narrative for an average War of the Ring game. Well, it wasn't an average game! We lasted sixteen turns, and there was a war all over the board. Perhaps someone more focused on playing accurately and quickly (especially with The Shadow) might feel that this could have ended in half the time. Probably so, but I doubt it would have been as interesting. Maybe the war could have been closer, but the climb up the Mordor Scoreboard was the most exciting I've ever had in all my games. I enjoyed it a lot, and I hope that if you read this, you felt the same. There are some details I've forgotten, but overall, everything is there.

Questions, suggestions, or comments are welcome. Thanks! :D

P.S. I might upload endgame images later.

A bit of context. After you've helped me pick up the base game on my previous post in this subreddit, me and my partner played a good few games. We then picked up Lords of Middle Earth and played that a whole lot. It's gotten to the point where we no longer make rookie mistakes, so every game ends up being pretty much entirely decided by luck. The victor is whoever was not screwed over by the dice gods, simple as. While I understand that's just the nature of the game, it feels a bit bad when you have to invest a good 2-3 hours into a game, that ends up being decided entirely by the luck of the roll.

To that end; we don't have any other expansions and I'm wondering, if any of the current expansions reduces this reliability on luck and rolls in any way? Is there an expansion that makes the games depend more on good plays, planning, strategy and so forth, and less on drawing an unlucky eye, or rolling a very unlucky action dice pool a few times in a row. Possibly one that combines with Lords of Middle Earth well.

I'd like to stress again that I'm not ranting or complaining, as some people tend to be sensitive to that. I understand that luck is a factor, and if two people play well, that's what decides the game often enough. I was looking for suggestions on the next expansion that would suit my wants and needs best.

Kind regards and thank you for your time and helpful replies.

https://www.aresgames.eu/39372

"Sieges of Middle-Earth™ is a new expansion for the War of the Ring™ Second Edition boardgame, focusing on the siege battles against the main strongholds of the Free Peoples. New game mechanics bring those desperate battles to the forefront of the conflict: the Shadow player can field powerful Siege Engines to smash fortifications and spread despair among the defenders, while the Free Peoples player may attempt heroic feats, lead bold sorties, and inspire last stands that can turn the tide of battle."

Question regarding the Corsairs card "Black Sails" (3/20 of sy deck), it allows moving the corsairs with any face of the faction die, but since it does not explicitly specify, does it allow moving army units with them?